Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics

Influence of spectral filtering on the quantum nature of light

Krista Joosten, Gerard Nienhuis

Published Apr 1, 2000• 44 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We study the two-time correlation function of spectrally filtered light from a quantum mechanical light source. The bunching and anti-bunching properties of the photo-statistics of a field display the quantum nature of the source. We study whether these properties are affected by the presence of filters that are modelled by dielectric slabs. We quantize the radiation field in the presence of the filters and express the correlation function in terms of source operators. As a quantum source we take the resonance fluorescence of a driven two-level atom. We find that the spectral correlations depend on the linewidth of the filters. When the pass time of the filter is much longer than the time scale on which the source evolves, the presence of the filter can conceal the quantum nature of the source. However, quantum mechanical correlations between opposite side bands survive even for very narrow filters.

DOI
10.1088/1464-4266/2/2/317

Related papers

Spectral correlations in resonance fluorescence

Gerard Nienhuis

We study the photon correlations between the output of two spectral filters set within the fluorescence triplet of a two-state atom. The time uncertainty arising from the spectral resolution of the filters implies a possible interference between opposite orders of emission, contributing to the same detection order. Furthermore, the fluorescent emission is a quantum-mechanical process, and successive emissions in different components do not commute. The correlation functions are affected both by the memory time of the filters and by the noncommutativity of successive emissions. When the two filter bandwidths are larger than the widths of the components, this only modifies the short-time behavior of the correlation functions between two photons from different spectral components. For narrow filters, the entire correlation function is dominated by memory-time effects. Positive (bunching) correlations arise when the two filters are set at the same frequency, and also when they are positioned symmetrically at opposite sides of the driving frequency.

Physical Review A•Jan 1, 1993•84 citations

Second‐Order Autocorrelation Function of Spectrally Filtered Light From an Incoherently Pumped Two‐Level System

Ivan V. Panyukov, Vladislav Yu. Shishkov, E. S. Andrianov

Abstract Light with zero second‐order autocorrelation function, g(2)(0), emitted by single‐photon source (SPS), for example, two‐level system (TLS), is usually considered as being in a Fock state with one photon in a certain electromagnetic mode of free space. However, real SPSs have finite linewidths and excite all modes lying within the linewidth. It is shown that the zero value of g(2)(0) of light emitted by an incoherently pumped TLS is a consequence of the quantum interference of electromagnetic modes lying within the linewidth. Applying the quantum regression theorem for out‐of‐time‐ordered correlation functions, an analytical expression for g(2)(0) is obtained for the light emitted by a TLS and passed through a spectral filter. It is shown that narrowing the spectral width of the band‐pass filter inevitably leads to an increase in g(2)(0). is found and it is demonstrated that certain spectral filters lead to its nonmonotonic time dependence. These results open up the possibility of controlling the statistics of the emitted light using a spectral filter, which can find applications in quantum communication and cryptography.

Annalen der Physik•Jan 4, 2022•8 citations

Non-classical correlations of light in the Jaynes-Cummings model

D. V. Maslennikov, Vladislav Yu. Shishkov, E. S. Andrianov

The problems concerning the influence of spectral filters on the quantum properties of light have recently attracted great attention in connection with quantum cryptography and quantum data transmission. In this paper, we consider the influence of a spectral filter on the second-order coherence function of a field of a resonator mode and a two-level atom in the framework of the Jaynes-Cummings model. Since the Heisenberg equations for the operators of the field of the resonator mode and the atom can be solved exactly, it is possible to obtain exact analytical Fourier transformation of the dynamics of operators of the resonator mode and two-level atom. We demonstrate that the second-order coherence function of the resonator mode and the two-level atom is equal to zero for all possible frequencies in the spectrum of operator oscillations. We find the interbeam second-order coherence function between different frequencies of the Fourier spectrum and show that in the limit of a large number of quanta, it can take the values in the range from zero to two. Thus, non-classical correlations are formed between certain frequencies in the Fourier spectrum of emitted light. We demonstrate that in the limit of a large number of quanta in the resonator mode, when the filter sums up the frequencies near the resonator eigenfrequency, the second-order coherence function of the field of the resonator mode is not affected by the interaction with the two-level atom.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•May 29, 2024•2 citations

Spectral properties of light in quantum optics

L. Knöll, W. Vogel, D.‐G. Welsch

The problem of spectral filtering of quantized light fields is studied, based on the recently developed quantum-optical theory of the action of passive, lossless optical systems [L. Kn\"oll, W. Vogel, and D.-G. Welsch, Phys. Rev. A 36, 3803 (1987)]. Expressions for the operator of the electric field strength of the light and the normally and time-ordered field-correlation functions are derived for the case of a Fabry-P\'erot interferometer being present. Various kinds of field decomposition that are usually considered in classical optics are studied. The results are compared with the Fourier approach to spectral properties of light. It is shown that, dependent on the experimental scheme used, new quantum effects appear, which may prevent the observation of the Fourier structure of the light as predicted from classical optics. Quantitatively this is demonstrated for the example of spectral squeezing in resonance fluorescence, where significant discrepancies between the measured and the full Fourier spectrum are found.

Physical Review A•Jul 1, 1990•60 citations

Spectral Correlations within the Fluorescence Triplet

Gerard Nienhuis

Spectral correlations of a light source are measured by setting the frequencies of two narrow filters at two frequencies within the spectrum of the source, and detecting the correlations between the two outputs. In the case of the fluorescence triplet of a two-level atom, correlations arise when the two filter frequencies are equal, and also when they are positioned symmetrically at opposite sides of the central driving frequency.

Europhysics Letters (EPL)•Jan 20, 1993•10 citations

Intensity correlations of frequency-filtered light fields

James D. Cresser

The theory of the intensity correlations between photons of different frequencies is re-examined from basic principles and is found to lead to an expression for the correlation function containing operator products which are normally ordered in time. This expression leads to results which are free of certain extra contributions that arise in another version of this theory which contains non-normally ordered products. The analysis presented is based on a description of the frequency-filtering process in terms of Fabry-Perot interferometers. The mirrors of the interferometers are modelled as classical dielectrics. The EM field in the presence of these dielectrics is then quantised and the intensity correlation function defined in terms of these modified field operators. The results are examined in detail for the case of a light field radiated by a two-level atom.

Journal of Physics B Atomic and Molecular Physics•Sep 28, 1987•62 citations
We study the two-time correlation function of spectrally filtered light from a quantum mechanical light source. The bunching and anti-bunching properties of the photo-statistics of a field display the quantum nature of the source. We study whether these properties are affected by the presence of filters that are modelled by dielectric slabs. We quantize the radiation field in the presence of the filters and express the correlation function in terms of source operators. As a quantum source we take the resonance fluorescence of a driven two-level atom. We find that the spectral correlations depend on the linewidth of the filters. When the pass time of the filter is much longer than the time scale on which the source evolves, the presence of the filter can conceal the quantum nature of the source. However, quantum mechanical correlations between opposite side bands survive even for very narrow filters.
We study the photon correlations between the output of two spectral filters set within the fluorescence triplet of a two-state atom. The time uncertainty arising from the spectral resolution of the filters implies a possible interference between opposite orders of emission, contributing to the same detection order. Furthermore, the fluorescent emission is a quantum-mechanical process, and successive emissions in different components do not commute. The correlation functions are affected both by the memory time of the filters and by the noncommutativity of successive emissions. When the two filter bandwidths are larger than the widths of the components, this only modifies the short-time behavior of the correlation functions between two photons from different spectral components. For narrow filters, the entire correlation function is dominated by memory-time effects. Positive (bunching) correlations arise when the two filters are set at the same frequency, and also when they are positioned symmetrically at opposite sides of the driving frequency.
Abstract Light with zero second‐order autocorrelation function, g(2)(0), emitted by single‐photon source (SPS), for example, two‐level system (TLS), is usually considered as being in a Fock state with one photon in a certain electromagnetic mode of free space. However, real SPSs have finite linewidths and excite all modes lying within the linewidth. It is shown that the zero value of g(2)(0) of light emitted by an incoherently pumped TLS is a consequence of the quantum interference of electromagnetic modes lying within the linewidth. Applying the quantum regression theorem for out‐of‐time‐ordered correlation functions, an analytical expression for g(2)(0) is obtained for the light emitted by a TLS and passed through a spectral filter. It is shown that narrowing the spectral width of the band‐pass filter inevitably leads to an increase in g(2)(0). is found and it is demonstrated that certain spectral filters lead to its nonmonotonic time dependence. These results open up the possibility of controlling the statistics of the emitted light using a spectral filter, which can find applications in quantum communication and cryptography.
The problems concerning the influence of spectral filters on the quantum properties of light have recently attracted great attention in connection with quantum cryptography and quantum data transmission. In this paper, we consider the influence of a spectral filter on the second-order coherence function of a field of a resonator mode and a two-level atom in the framework of the Jaynes-Cummings model. Since the Heisenberg equations for the operators of the field of the resonator mode and the atom can be solved exactly, it is possible to obtain exact analytical Fourier transformation of the dynamics of operators of the resonator mode and two-level atom. We demonstrate that the second-order coherence function of the resonator mode and the two-level atom is equal to zero for all possible frequencies in the spectrum of operator oscillations. We find the interbeam second-order coherence function between different frequencies of the Fourier spectrum and show that in the limit of a large number of quanta, it can take the values in the range from zero to two. Thus, non-classical correlations are formed between certain frequencies in the Fourier spectrum of emitted light. We demonstrate that in the limit of a large number of quanta in the resonator mode, when the filter sums up the frequencies near the resonator eigenfrequency, the second-order coherence function of the field of the resonator mode is not affected by the interaction with the two-level atom.
The problem of spectral filtering of quantized light fields is studied, based on the recently developed quantum-optical theory of the action of passive, lossless optical systems [L. Kn\"oll, W. Vogel, and D.-G. Welsch, Phys. Rev. A 36, 3803 (1987)]. Expressions for the operator of the electric field strength of the light and the normally and time-ordered field-correlation functions are derived for the case of a Fabry-P\'erot interferometer being present. Various kinds of field decomposition that are usually considered in classical optics are studied. The results are compared with the Fourier approach to spectral properties of light. It is shown that, dependent on the experimental scheme used, new quantum effects appear, which may prevent the observation of the Fourier structure of the light as predicted from classical optics. Quantitatively this is demonstrated for the example of spectral squeezing in resonance fluorescence, where significant discrepancies between the measured and the full Fourier spectrum are found.
The theory of the intensity correlations between photons of different frequencies is re-examined from basic principles and is found to lead to an expression for the correlation function containing operator products which are normally ordered in time. This expression leads to results which are free of certain extra contributions that arise in another version of this theory which contains non-normally ordered products. The analysis presented is based on a description of the frequency-filtering process in terms of Fabry-Perot interferometers. The mirrors of the interferometers are modelled as classical dielectrics. The EM field in the presence of these dielectrics is then quantised and the intensity correlation function defined in terms of these modified field operators. The results are examined in detail for the case of a light field radiated by a two-level atom.